Crystal Palace sign Israel winger Khalaili from Union Saint-Gilloise on five-year deal
Crystal Palace have signed 21-year-old Israel international Anan Khalaili from Union Saint-Gilloise on a five-year contract until 2031, after a proposed move to Inter Milan collapsed over medical tests.
Transfer completed
Crystal Palace have signed Israel international Anan Khalaili from Union Saint-Gilloise on a five-year contract running until 2031, the Premier League club announced on Saturday, 15 August. The 21-year-old, who can play as both a winger and a full-back, becomes Palace's fifth signing of the summer window, following Oscar Mingueza, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Dwight McNeil and Evann Guessand to Selhurst Park. Palace finished 15th in the Premier League last season and won the Conference League.
The transfer fee varies across reports. SAPO and RTBF, citing transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, put the figure at €24.5 to €24.6 million. De Standaard reports €28 million, calling it a record sum for the Brussels club. One RTBF article mentions a figure around €35 million. Regardless of the exact amount, the deal surpasses Union's previous record sales of Franjo Ivanovic (€22.8 million) and Victor Boniface (€22.6 million).
A path through Brussels
Khalaili joined Union from his youth club Maccabi Haifa in the summer of 2024 for approximately €6.5 million. He quickly established himself as an indispensable right-sided player at the Park Duden, where his versatility allowed him to operate both as an attacking winger and a defensive full-back. Over two seasons he amassed 101 appearances, scoring 8 goals and providing 11 assists.
- Joined Union Saint-Gilloise from Maccabi Haifa for approximately €6.5 million
- Won Union's first Belgian league title in 90 years
- Won Belgian Cup; also won two Belgian Super Cups
- Failed medical tests at Inter Milan, transfer collapsed
- Officially signed with Crystal Palace on five-year deal until 2031
- Appearances
- 101
- Goals
- 8
- Assists
- 11
During the 2024-2025 campaign he helped Union win their first Belgian league title in 90 years. The following season he added a Belgian Cup winner's medal, and he also won two Belgian Super Cups. In the Champions League he scored three goals that drew wider attention, netting twice against Marseille and once against Atalanta.
Inter Milan setback
Before agreeing terms with Crystal Palace, Khalaili had been expected to join Inter Milan, but the move collapsed after problems emerged during his medical tests. Palace's medical staff subsequently cleared him, allowing the transfer to proceed after what had been a matter of days, if not hours, of negotiation.
Khalaili has earned 16 caps for Israel. He expressed enthusiasm about the move to London.
I'm happy to be here, I'm excited, and I can't wait to start. I've followed the Premier League, it's a new challenge for me, and I've followed Crystal Palace for a long time. I'm happy to be here.
Palace chairman Steve Parrish welcomed the signing.
We are very excited to have completed this signing and we are delighted that Anan has chosen to continue his journey with Crystal Palace.
Financial context for Union
The transfer will help offset Union's disappointment at missing the Champions League league phase, which would have guaranteed each participant €18.62 million. Instead, the Brussels club will receive only €4.31 million from the Europa League. The Khalaili sale represents a significant windfall for a club that has built a reputation for profitable player trading, having invested roughly €6.5 million in the Israeli international in 2024 and now sold him on for a record fee within two years.
